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Counseling Myths & Facts

Myth #1: Going to counseling is a sign of weakness.

FACT: Actually, it takes a great deal of emotional strength to confront problem areas, seek help, and take responsibility for your life.

Myth #2: "No one is going to tell me what to do!"

Fact: The task of a counselor is not to tell you what to do. Rather, a counselor can help you explore potential solutions to your concerns and, once you have chosen a direction or goal, can help you achieve it.

Myth #3: A counselor cannot understand me unless he/she has had similar experiences or is of the same background.

Fact: Counselors are trained to listen carefully and to respect individual differences in many forms, including life experiences, gender, race, ethnicity, culture, religion, age, sexual orientation, and disability.

Myth #4: Change is simple.

Fact: Important changes often take time and energy to occur. Counseling may not provide a "quick fix" to your problems, but can be a useful part of working toward meaningful life change.

Select a topic

  1. Online screening questionnaires
  2. Topical Information
  3. Online Advice/Support
  4. Light therapy for seasonal depression
  5. Local resources
  6. Coping with tragedy, trauma & death

Online Screening Questionnaires*

Receive feedback about your mood, anxiety, eating habits, alcohol/drug use and more. All assessments are anonymous and confidential.

Personalized for UW-Stout

  • SCREENING FOR MENTAL HEALTH - mood (depression, bipolar), anxiety, and eating disorder screening
  • Alcohol/Drug assessments - receive personalized feedback about your alcohol and marijuana use
Other assessments
  • Psych Central - Assessment of mental health symptoms, relationships, sexuality, and other issues
  • ULifeline Self-eValuator - A mental health self-assessment developed to provide insights into your (or a friend's) current state of mind
*Note: If the results of an online screening suggest further assessment by a professional, please consider scheduling an appointment with one of our counselors for this purpose

Topical Information

Get information about developmental and mental health issues, their unique features and various self-help and professional treatment options. Great information for yourself or someone you care about, and for completing class assignments on mental health topics.

  • Student Health 101 - online health and wellness magazine, tailored to UW-Stout
  • ULifeline - confidential, online resource center for college student mental health and emotional well-being. Includes fact sheets, student polls, personal stories, and internet links to additional information
  • Half of Us - a project between ULifeline and mtvU that includes videos of your favorite artists and other students sharing how they've coped with  mental health issues
  • Virtual Pamphlet Collection - informational pamphlets on topics relevant to students (e.g., relationships, test-taking, study skills, eating issues, depression, anxiety, abuse, etc.), from college and university counseling centers around the country. Indexed by topic area
  • Resources for Veteran Students and their Families - put together by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
  • CampusBlues.com - Information especially for college students, on topics including relationships, money management, homesickness, roommates, test anxiety, fear of public speaking, mental health, alcohol & drugs, and many more (Currently unavailable)
  • National Institute of Mental Health - Information about the signs and symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of the most common mental disorders, including depression, generalized anxiety, PTSD, panic disorder, ADHD, eating disorders, social phobia, and more
  • Psych Central - Links to professionally reviewed internet resources, articles, books, and support groups for a variety of developmental and mental health issues, including relationships, self-esteem, abuse, anxiety, grief & loss, depression, etc. Indexed by topic area
  • Mayo Clinic Mental Health Center - Expert information and articles about mental disorders and their treatment.
  • American Psychological Association Help Center - APA's online resource for brochures, tips and articles on the psychological issues that affect your physical and emotional well-being
  • National Mental Health Association - Fact sheets covering mental health topics from the oldest and largest nonprofit mental health organization
  • Rx List, The Internet Drug Index - Comprehensive online information about prescription medications

Online Advice/Support

Locate online advice/support to ask questions, participate in discussion boards, and receive advice/support from both professionals and persons coping with a variety of physical and mental health concerns.

  • Go Ask Alice - Maintained by Columbia University Health Education Program, "Alice!" contains hundreds of responses to questions posted anonymously by college students about relationships, emotional health, sexuality, alcohol and other drugs, fitness, nutrition, and general health
  • Psycho-Babble - Online support groups and message boards on topics including grief, substance abuse, general support, psychological treatment issues,
  • Psych Central - online support/discussion groups for people coping with mental health and relationship issuesmedication issues (specific to mental health), and others
  • National Students AMF Support Network - dedicated to supporting college students coping coping with the illness or death of a loved one.

Light Therapy for Seasonal Depression

The Counseling Center offers trial use in the Center of a light therapy box for treating Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and related conditions. Brief screening with a counselor is required, and daily, 30-minute sessions for a 2-week period are typically recommended for an adequate trial.  If interested in scheduling a screening with a counselor, call 232-2468, or come into the Counseling Center in 410 Bowman Hall.

For more information on SAD, see http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/seasonal-affective-disorder/DS00195.

Local Information & Resources

Explore local resources including online information, books, brochures, and other resources accessible to students.

Note: Most of these links on this page are not maintained by the Counseling Center or UW-Stout. They may be helpful but are not meant to replace consultation with a professional counselor. UW-Stout students should contact the Counseling Center for information about local resources. For help in evaluating the credibility of Web sites that provide mental health advice and to safeguard your privacy on the Internet, go to http://www.apa.org/monitor/julaug00/dotcomsense.html.